Illuminated sign.



Patented Oct. I7, |899. M J SULLIVAN & M. J. OCUNNOR. ILLUMINATED SIGN (No Model.)

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No. 635,202. Patented Oct. I7, 1899.

' M. J. SULLIVAN & M. J. CNNUR.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

(Applicatio'n led Sept. 15, 1898.]

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TH: Norms PETERS oo.. PHoToLITHa.. wAsNmoToN. u. c.

'Nrrnn STATES MICHAEL J. SULLIVAN AND MICHAEL J. OCONNOR, OF HOLYOKE, MASSA- CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS F ONE-THIRD TO EUCLIDE PROVOST, OF SAME PLACE.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,202, dated October 17, 1899.

Appnaaon nea september 15, 189s. serial No. 691,028. (No man.)

county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Illuminated Sign, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in.

1o illuminated signs for street-cars by which a series of inscriptions may be disclosed during the night-time; and the primary object that we have in view is to provide an improved structure which may be easily mounted on a i 5 carin a position to display the inscriptions thereon and to have its actuating mechanism arranged within convenient reach of a motorman or conductor.

Further objects of the invention are to prozo vide means by which a current of electrical energy may be supplied to incandescent lights within a rotatable sign-drum in a manner to avoid interfering with the rotation of said drum, to provide means by which the drum may be held firmly and steadily in place until it is desired to change the position of the sign-drum for presenting another inscription to View, to provide improved means by which the drum may be rotated at suitable inter-- 3o vals, and to simplify the construction and promote the efficiency of operation.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts,

3 5 which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, we have illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying draw- 4o ings, forming a part of this specification, and

in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a street-car with our illuminatedsign applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the sign. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the plane indicated l by the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is another vertical transverse section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 4 4 of Fig. 2, look- 5o ing in the direction indicated by the arrow to illustrate a portion of the feed mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the casing which contains certain operating part-s of the feed mechanism. Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through one end of the 5 5 rotatable sign-drum, which has the feed mechanism associated therewith, said section being on the plane indicated by the dotted line 6V 6 of Fig. 4 and illustrating the brake device more clearly. 6o

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures ofthe drawings.

The illuminated sign of our invention is constructed in the form of a drum which is adapted to be rotated on a horizontal axis and to be mounted on the roof of a Streetcar, preferably an electrically-propelled car of a character well known inthe art. The drum may be of any desired form in cross-section, 7o and in the drawings we have illustrated said drum as being square in cross-section 5 but it will be understood that the drum may be of. any other polygonal contour desired, according to the nu mber of inscriptions which it may be desired to provide on said drum. As shown, the drum consists of the metallic heads or end plates 2 2a and a plurality of sign-frames 3, which are fitted snugly together and suitably secured to the heads of the drum, whereby So the frames 3 are removable individually from the heads and the inscriptions thereof may be changed without disturbing the other signframes on said drum. We have illustrated the sign-frames as having the beveled faces adapted to t snugly together to produce the joints 4, and said frames are attached to the heads bythe fastening-screws 5. Each frame is equipped with a transparent or translucent plate or pane 6,which is provided with asuit- 9o able inscription, and this pane is secured removably within the sign-frame, so that the inscription may beremoved and a pane bearing a fresh inscription or an inscription of a diderent character supplied. The translucent plate or pane 6 is arranged in suitable grooves or ways of the sides of the frame, and the latter is provided at'one end with an opening 3, through which the plate or pane is withdrawn. This opening 3a is normally filled by ico a removable block 3b, held in place by a suitable fastening device 3, and the other end of the frame is provided with an opening 3d, through which a wire or rod may be passed to facilitate the removal of the pane by forcing the same out through the said opening 3. The sign-drum may have inscriptions denoting its destination or bearing suitable advertisements, or other matter which it is desired to display to the public.

One end of the rotatable drinn is supported by a standard 7, adapted to be firmly fastened on a car. The upper cud of this standard is constructed with asegmental bearing S, having a closed side, in which is provided a radial slot i). In this bearing of the standard is mounted a tubular shaft 10, which supports the end of the drum that lies adjacent to the standard, and this shaft is mounted loosely in a suitable bearing-opening provided in the head 2"L of said drum. The protruding end of the tubular shaft 10 is constructed with a disk-like head 11 and with a threaded tenon 12, and to fit the shaft in the standard 7 it is adjusted for itstcnon to pass through the radial slot 9 and its head 11 to occupy the segmental bearing of said standard. The tubular shaft is clamped firmly in the standardbearing by screwing a nut 1f on the threaded tenon 12, and this nut bears against a washer 13, which is interposed between the bearing S and the nut. The threaded length 15 of the shaft is extended or carried into the chamber of the sign-drum, and said shaft is provided with a radial opening 1G, located at a point between the drum-head 2 and the standard 7 for the purpose of permitting the electrical conductors to be carried into the shaft and thence led therethrough for electrical connection with the terminals in a socket-piece of an incandescent lamp 17, the socket-piece 1S of which is secured detaehably to the threaded length 15 of the shaft 10.

The sign-drum of our invention carries or sustains a reflector 2t), which is curved in cross-section and of a length to extend nearly the full length of the drum, and this reflector is mounted or clamped on the two shafts which support therevolnble sign-drum so that the refiector will occupy a stationary position within the drum, which may be actuated at suitable intervals by the feed mechanism to rotate ou the shafts and around the reflector for the purpose of presenting the different inscription-panes to view. The reflector 2O may be made of any suitable material; but we prefer to construct it of sheet metal with the segmental end walls 2F. These end walls have openings that loosely receive the shafts by which the revoluble drum is supported in position, and the reflector is spaced in relation to the heads of the drum by the washers 19, which are fitted on the shaft to bear against the end walls of the reflector. Nuts 21 are screwed on the threaded lengths of the shafts to bear against the washers disposed within the reflector,

and this reflector is thus clamped in place on the shafts to occupy a stationary position within the revoluble drum.

The head 2 of the revoluble drum is formed with an integral face-plate22, that protrudes beyond the plane of the drinn, and in this face-plate is an 'angular raceway 23, the angles or corners of which are formed with offsets 24. The face-plate has a hub 25 lying within the raceway therein, and in the head 2 is a journal-opening 26, a socket 27 being formed in the head 2 and the hub 25 to accommodate the inner end of a brake-spring presently described.` The end of the drum having the head 2 is supported by a horizontal shaft 28, which is in longitudinal alinement with the shaft at the opposite end of the drum, and this shaft 28 is tubular to provide for the passage therethrough of the conductors by which a current of electrical energy may be transmitted to an incandescent lamp 30, the socket-piece 31 of which is screwed to a threaded length 29 of the shaft 2S. This shaft is loosely fitted in the journalopening 20 of the drum-head 2, and to the shaft is secured the nut that binds against the washers to hold the reflector in position on the shaft, as heretofore described. One end of the shaft protrudes a considerable distance beyond the head 2 of the drum and it is formed with a threaded tenon 33, which fits in an opening 31 of the housing 35, the latter being provided with a foot-flange 36 for firmly securing the housing 35. A brakedisk 37 is fitted loosely on the tcnon of the shaft to travel endwise thereon and bear against a face of the housing 35, and against this brake-disk presses a powerful coiled spring 38, which is mounted on the shaft 28 to have one end thereof occupy the socket 27 in the hub of the head 2. The threaded tenen of the shaft 2S passes through the housing 35 to receive a clamping-nut 32, and the brake-spring 3S is sealed at one end against i the drum-head 2, so as to exert its pressure against the movable brake-disk and press the latter into tight frictional contact with the housing, whereby the tension of the spring is exerted against the head 2 of the drum to restrain the latter from free rotation on its horizontal axis, and thereby hold the drum in position until it is moved'liositively by the action of the feed device.

To the hub 25 of the drum-head 2 is fitted a guide-plate 39, the contour of which corresponds to said hub, and the dimensions of this guide-plate slightly exceed the hub, so that the edges of the plate project beyond the edges of the hub. A retainer-plate 40 is fixed removably by screws to the face-plate 22, so as to have the inner edge of the plate 4:0 project within the raceway of the drumhead 2, and this retainer-plate has a continuous slot el, provided with offsets L12, arranged coincident with the raceway 23 and offset 2f in the face-plate 22 and head2.

The housing35is constructedtoformacham- IIO ber which receives the feed mechanism by which the drum may be turned intermittently, and in one embodiment of the feed mechanism We provide an arm 43 and an operating-spindle 44. This spindle is slidably fitted in the hou sing to have its lower end extend through the car and be provided With a handle 45, that is Within convenient reach of the motorman or conductor, and said spindle has a clip 4G, suitably attached thereto, so as to travel with the spindle when it is moved by hand. The feed-arm 43 is contained Within the housing, and its lower end is pivoted at 47 to the clip 46, and said feed-arm has an operating-pin 48, Which extends through the slot in the retainer-.plate 40 and projects into the race'Way of the head 2. The free end of this operatin g-pin 48 carries a friction-roller 49, adapted to travel freelyT in the raceway of the head 2, and this friction-roller is retained Within the racewayagainst accidental' displacement therefrom by the guide-plate 39 and the retailler-plate 40. A spring 50 is operatively fitted to the spindle 44 and the feed-arm 43 to impart a lateral movement to the feed-arm when its operating-pin and the friction-roller arrive opposite the osets in the raceway of the head and retainer-plate. The feed-arm, which travels with the operating-spindle, is prevented from turning out of position bya guide 5l, which is fixed Within the housing. It will be observed that the housing embraces the face-plate and incloses within itself the entire operating mechanism except the protruding part of the spindle 44 and the handle thereof, thereby excluding the Weather from the feed mechanism and obviating the accumulation of dust, which Will tend to .obstruct the free movement of the Workin g parts.

Therevolublesignis partiallyhousedwithin a hood 52, constructed, preferably, of sheet metal and secured to the car adjacent to the sign.

Our improved sign may readily be applied to a car on the roof thereof or at any other conspicuous place, and it is evident that it may be placed on either end or side of the car. The standard and housing are adapted to be secured firmly to a part of the car, and the supporting-shaft for the revoluble drum may readily be fitted to the standard and housing and clamped therein, so that the shafts remain stationary, while the drum is free to turn thereon under the action of the feed mechanism. Under normal conditions the brake-spring holds the drum firmly in its place to display one of the inscriptions thereon to View; but when it is desired to turn the drum on its horizontal aXis and display another inscription Ithe operating-spindle is pulled in a downward direction and then forced back to its normal position. As the spindle is moved in one direction the pin and friction-roller thereof are pressed by the spring 50 into one of the offsets from the race- Way and the slot of the retainer-plate, thus momentarily clutching the spindle to the drum and insuring a partial rotationof the drum as the spindle is actuated. A reverse movement of the spindle causes its pin and friction-roller to travel in one of the straight lengths of the raceway until said pin and roller assume a position opposite another of the offsets in the said raceWay, and at this time the spring 50 exerts its tension against the feed-arm 43 to cause the pin and frictionroller to enter the offset. The feed mechanism may be operated at any suitable time to change the position of the .drum and display the desired inscription to view.

Changes may be made in the form of some of the parts, While their essential features are retained and the spirit of the invention embodied. Hence We do not desire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown, reserving the right to vary therefrom.

Having thus described the invention,what We claim isl. In an illuminated sign, a chambered standard or casing, an operating-rod slidably fitted in said standard or casing, and a springpressed shifting arm pivoted to the operatingrod and having a finger or stud, combined with a shaft or journal mounted in the standard or casing, and a revoluble drum having a head which is fitted on the shaft or journal and providedwith a raceway adapted to receive the linger or stud of the arm on said operating-rod, substantially as described.

2. In an illuminated sign, the combination of a chambered standard or casing, a shaft or journal mounted therein, a revoluble drum having a head which is provided with a race- Way and with a central recess adapted for the passage of the journal or shaft, a brakespring coiled around the shaft or journal and having its respective ends fitted in the recess of the drum-head and against the standard or casing, a slidable rod guided in the standard or casing, and a shifting arm connected to the rod and having a finger adapted to the raceway of the drum-head, substantially as described.

3. In an illuminated sign, a drum-head provided with a racewayhaving the offsets at its angles, a feed-arm having an `operating-pin arranged to travel in said raceway, and a spindle connected With said feed-arm, in combination With a housing in which the drum is rotatably supported, substantially as described.

4. In an illuminated sign, a revoluble drum having its head at one end provided with an angular raceway and with the offsets at the angles or corners of said raceway, a housing, a non-rotatable shaft clamped to the housing and supporting one end of the drum, a spindle slidably fitted in the housing, a spring-pressed arm connected to the spindle and having an operating-pin arranged to travel in the raceway of one head, and a brake-spring fitted to the journal and acting against the housing and drum-head, substantially as described.

IOC

a raeeway, and lamps mounted detaehably on the inner ends of said journals, substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto afxed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses MICHAEL J. SULLIVAN. MICHAEL J. OCONNOR.

fitnessesz F. A. MORRIS, P. J. GARVEY. 

